Ties to India

Following Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to India this week, our Indian readers shared their thoughts on ties between the two countries.

The Taj Mahal
There's more to India than meets the Western eye, wrote readersImage: AP

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

As a frequent visitor from India to Germany, I feel that German impressions of India are very dated. India is changing rapidly nowadays and a decade makes a lot of difference. India is already an economic and technological power in many areas. Yes, it has many poor people but that is bound to happen with a population of 1.1 billion. I doubt India will achieve the living standards of Germany for many decades. But a simple doubling of GDP, which is possible in the next 10 years, can wipe out the widespread poverty which was the source of Buddha's awakening even 2500 years ago. Germany should open up to India in trade and people movement and take advantage of our 700 million young people under the age of 30. -- Ranjan Ganguli, India

I'd like to praise Angela Markel, who made a slight shift from China to see India. I regret previous German politicians' inability to see India as nothing more than a multifaceted, poor country. If Germany wants to make its presence felt in India it needs to correct its outlook towards India and not judge it in figures but by its possibilities. -- Minakshi, India

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right, talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Merkel met with Indian Prime Minister Singh on Tuesday Image: AP

While the policy of the government is to attract investments and skilled professionals from India, the conduct of the foreign office employees is becoming increasingly hostile. And let's not talk about the new spouse visa rules and restrictions on starting a business for non-EU nationals. - Anand, India

Emerging and existing entrepreneurs in India are very responsible people. Share with them green technology -- an easy trade without politics. -- Venkat, India